Sunday, October 5, 2008

The West Kensington Action Group's mural painting event was a great success Saturday afternoon. Dozens of people dropped by the empty lot at 31-35 Church Avenue to lend a hand and paint a flower or two. The day provided a wonderful opportunity to meet other people in the neighborhood also concerned about the future of Church Avenue. The group hopes that the event sends the message to local politicians that west Kensington must no longer be ignored.Paints by George provided paint and brushes, canvas was paid for by Shannon's Nursery, Foodtown brought over snacks and drinks, and Dahill Halal Pizza fed the starving artists free pizza. Free children's books, voter registration cards, and a petition to usher in more green jobs with the next administration (greenjobs.org) were also provided.

Though the owner of the lot and city officials have been contacted for years about the rat and garbage issue, the problem still persists. The community feels that the entire west end of Church Avenue is anchored by the deterioration of this huge space that has sat empty for many years. As one neighbor put it, "Its' a real shame. The only green space over here is locked up behind that gate and littered with garbage!".

The mural is a painting of an idealized version of the lot with the abandoned buildings transformed into an community center and a cafe; the surrounding gardens bursting with flowers. On the far end of the mural is a statement:"Dear Neighbors, this mural represents a dream of what our neighborhood could be if we came together as a community and turned this lot into a green vibrant part of a thriving Kensington. 31-35 Church Avenue has been neglected by its owners for years. We have tried to enlist the help of our city officials to no avail. The time has come to take back our neighborhood but we need your help!"